Group Of Nine Monuments In The Churchyard Of The Church Of St Martin Circa 9 To 15 Metres South Of The East End Of The Chancel

The group comprises nine monuments located approximately 9 to 15 metres south of the east end of the chancel in the churchyard of St Martin's Church. These consist of two chest tombs and seven headstones, all constructed from limestone.

The first chest tomb, positioned 9 metres from the southeast corner of the chancel, dates from the mid to late 18th century. It has a moulded plinth with inset corners, bolstered inscription panels with moulded margins and quadrant corners featuring floral bosses on the north and south sides, and fluted marginal panels set back. A square lugged inscription panel with a gadrooned base is present at the west end, while a circular inscription panel with gadrooned decoration appears at the east end. The capping has a moulded margin with inset corners.

A second, unidentified chest tomb, located approximately 2 metres to the southwest of the first, also dates from the 18th century. This tomb features fielded inscription panels with traces of inscriptions on the north and south sides, along with fielded marginal panels. Segmental-headed fielded inscription panels are found at the east and west ends, with traces of an inscription at the east end. It is capped with a moulded margin.

The first headstone, found 0.6 metres west of the second chest tomb, bears a partially legible inscription and the date 1694, and is decorated with a double scroll and a bee-like feature at the top. The next headstone commemorates Margaret, wife of John Roberts of Woolstone (died 1705). It is notable for its unusual stylized cherub’s head with a ruffle at the top, accompanied by raised foliate marginal decoration.

A further headstone, positioned 0.9 metres south of the previous one, marks the burial of John Roberts of Woolstone (died 1715). It mirrors the decoration of the Margaret Roberts headstone but features an hourglass in place of the cherub's head. To the south of this is a headstone for Thomas Wood, who died in 1652. This stone is rectangular with rounded corners and a simple, continuous zig-zag decoration to the margin; the inscription is crudely carved.

The headstone for Robert Web and Ann his wife (dated 1657) is located 2.5 metres east of the Margaret Roberts monument. It is a simple segmental-headed stone with a sunken inscription panel, crudely inscribed in capitals, and a simple incised line to the raised margin. The initials 'R.W.' are inscribed at the top. Another headstone, 1 metre to the south, has a sunken inscription panel and a dated 1680. It has a raised margin with a double scroll at the top. The final headstone, likely from the 17th century, marks the burial of 'THOMAS MUCHELL OF PRESCOAT’ with no date inscribed.